Raiders re-sign assistant coach Tony Sparano

Raiders offensive line/assistant head coach Tony Sparano will remain with Oakland after signing a two-year extension.

ALAMEDA -- Assistant coach Tony Sparano has signed a two-year contract to remain with the Raiders, the team announced on its Twitter account Friday.

Sparano will retain his position as assistant head coach as well as offensive line coach. Unconfirmed reports had Sparano potentially leaving to join Lovie Smith on the staff of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Various reports had owner Mark Davis declining to extend contracts of some assistant coaches beyond this season. Giving Sparano a two-year deal would mean either those reports were incorrect or that Davis relented in order to keep a valued assistant.

This newspaper reported early in the week that ``six or seven'' coaches had already accepted one-year deals.

Sparano did solid work with an offensive line that was decimated by injuries and started several different combinations up front. Left tackle Jared Veldheer, the team's best lineman, was out until Thanksgiving following surgery to repair a torn left triceps.

Menelik Watson, the Raiders' second-round pick, was a non-factor due to a nagging calf injury and arthroscopic knee surgery.

At his season-ending press conference, Raiders coach Dennis Allen said he expected to have much of the 2013 staff back for the 2014 season.